Review: One to Keep by Sophie Oak

One to Keep by Sophie Oak

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing
Genre: Erotic Romance

Heat Rating: 4

Blurb

Stefan Talbot let Jennifer Waters run from him once. He knew she was far too young for him, but he kept a watchful eye on her, protecting her from afar. When she’s arrested for a crime she didn’t commit, Stef knows the time has come to get close again.

Jennifer ran from Bliss only to find herself in hot water in Dallas. She’s longed to return to Bliss, but not in handcuffs. The only thing she longs for more than her mountain home is the man she ran from—Stef Talbot.
In the middle of the Winter Festival, Stef and Jen find themselves fighting for their love and their lives because danger has followed them back to Bliss.



Clare C's Review

Part of the Bliss series, One to Keep fits right in with the rest of the books. In order to convince him they belong together, Jen Waters must fight against Stefan Talbot’s penchant for keeping people at arm’s length while simultaneously controlling their lives. Throw in the Russian Mob, and we have a vintage Oak novel. Much of the book is devoted to furthering Jen’s association with the characters presented in Three to Ride and Two to Love. Some chapters are told from the point of view of a character that will probably have a book devoted to him next.

Because I have read the previous two books, I didn’t get lost among the vast cast of characters. I would not read this as a stand-alone for that reason alone. It was nice to visit with characters from previous novels, but I felt they sometimes intruded on Jen and Stef’s story. I would have liked it to focus more on developing Jen’s and Stef’s characters, and on developing the emotional relationship between them. Also, given how devoted Stef is to the BDSM lifestyle, I thought there would be more S&M involved. I have too much respect for Ms. Oak to give her a pass on that.

Even so, the vivid characters of Bliss welcome everyone. One of the things I like about Ms. Oak is how her friendly writing style invites the reader inside the story. Her plots, like her characters, are larger than life. I’m willing to suspend my disbelief long enough to believe stalkers, biker gangs, murderers, and mobs can upend life in a small town. It’s enjoyable, and it really makes me appreciate the relative safety and boredom of my small town. Thoroughly entertaining and pleasurable, fans of Oak will love One to Keep. If you’re new to Sophie Oak, pick up Three to Ride first.

4 Tea Cups!